WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 1, 2018) – AAA, North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, and Lyft, the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S., have announced the start of new collaboration to provide innovative mobility solutions to AAA members and customers. Through a new program in select markets, AAA and Lyft will offer mobility options to drivers who find themselves without a vehicle and in need of transportation.

Additional Resources

The program offers free rides to customers at select AAA owned and operated Car Care Centers. Until recently, AAA has offered car care customers complimentary shuttle rides to their destination – work, home, school or somewhere else. With Lyft’s concierge platform, select AAA locations can now schedule complimentary Lyft rides for customers traveling to or from AAA Car Care Centers. Customers do not need the Lyft app or a smartphone. AAA is introducing these ride share resources in response to member demand for access to quick, hassle-free transportation.

This program is currently operating at AAA Car Care Centers in Maryland and select cities* in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“When it comes to transportation, people want options. Providing a time-saving and convenient ride resource means one less worry for our busy members and customers,” said Marshall Doney, AAA president and CEO. “AAA Clubs and Lyft are playing an important role in exploring and testing mobility opportunities. Over time we expect the collaboration to offer additional transportation resources to meet the evolving needs of members.”

In addition to the AAA Car Care Center, Lyft and CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, are now providing motorists with the option of receiving Lyft credits during the auto insurance claim process, depending upon their individual vehicle circumstances. This pilot, launched in early 2017 and now available throughout CSAA Insurance Group’s 23 state and District of Columbia service area, is the first-of-its kind in the industry, and is part of CSAA Insurance Group’s ongoing work to serve the evolving needs of AAA members.

“We’re excited to help provide more transportation solutions for AAA members and customers,” said Gyre Renwick, VP of Lyft Business. “By offering an easy and affordable transit option for passengers while their vehicles are out of service for repairs, with Lyft credits or through our Concierge platform, we’re helping to create a seamless customer experience for both customers and AAA agents.”

This collaboration between AAA and Lyft is just the beginning of a partnership that will continue to deliver new and innovative mobility options to meet the demand and needs of AAA members and customers.

About AAA: As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 59 million members with automotive, travel, insurance and financial services through its federation of 35 motor clubs and nearly 1,100 branch offices across North America. Since 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for safe mobility. Drivers can request roadside assistance, identify nearby gas prices, locate discounts, book a hotel or map a route via the AAA Mobile app. To join, visit AAA.com.

About Lyft: Lyft was founded in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation. Lyft is the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S. and is available to 95 percent of the US population as well as in Ontario, Canada. Lyft is preferred by drivers and passengers for its reliable and friendly experience, and its commitment to effecting positive change for the future of our cities, as the first rideshare company to offset carbon emissions from all rides globally.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2018) – Ride-hailing services are a popular and convenient transportation option, but a new AAA analysis shows they are not a cost-effective replacement for vehicle ownership. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the average driver in an urban area – the only setting in which using these services are a practical full-time transportation option – drives 10,841 miles per year. While urban drivers travel fewer miles than those living in smaller towns or rural areas, relying on ride-hailing services as a primary mode of transportation would cost $20,118 annually. This equates to more than twice the cost of owning a personal vehicle, even when factoring in the expense of fuel, insurance, parking and the vehicle itself.

Additional Resources

“Whether you own a vehicle or not, ride-hailing services are a convenient transportation option,” said John Nielsen, managing director, Automotive Engineering and Repair. “However, with the average American city-dweller driving nearly 11,000 miles per year, a personal vehicle is still the more cost-effective choice.”

For the study, AAA analyzed the costs of ride-hailing services (including the use of an occasional rental car) in 20 major urban areas. Based on the average number of miles traveled by city-dwellers, annual ride-hailing costs are as follows:

Atlanta

$17,741

Nashville

$26,397

Austin

$19,821

New York

$21,279

Baltimore

$19,917

Philadelphia

$23,201

Boston

$27,545

Phoenix

$17,436

Chicago

$22,020

Pittsburgh

$18,940

Cleveland

$20,091

Salt Lake City

$18,866

Dallas

$16,944

San Diego

$17,316

Denver

$20,434

San Francisco

$21,972

Los Angeles

$17,951

Seattle

$23,951

Miami

$17,339

Washington, D.C.

$21,093

According to data from AAA’s annual Your Driving Costs study, the average annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle, the costliest form of vehicle ownership, is $7,321 for 10,841 miles of travel annually. Understanding that parking costs can be a major ownership expense for those living in urban areas, AAA also analyzed the costs of flat-rate parking per year, which ranges from $706 (Phoenix) to $8,088 (New York), with an average cost of $2,728. For those with access to free parking, relying on ride-hailing services is nearly three times more expensive than vehicle ownership in these cities.

“For those who travel a very limited number of miles annually, or have mobility issues that prevent them from driving a personal vehicle, ride-hailing can be a viable and important option,” continued Nielsen. “But, for everyone else: the car is still king.”

Vehicle owners looking to minimize their operating costs should consider the following:

Buy (gently) used – Depreciation is the single largest expense for vehicle owners. By driving a pre-owned vehicle in good condition, ownership costs are significantly lower. A safe, reliable vehicle can be found at an attractive price point.

Show your car some love – It sounds counterintuitive, but spending money on routine maintenance can actually save you money in the end. To keep engines running longer, consider switching to synthetic oil and upgrading to TOP TIER™ gasoline.

Slow down – When gas prices are high, small changes in the way you drive can make a big difference.

To determine the average number of miles traveled by a city-dweller, AAA’s analysis leveraged data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s American Driving Survey. AAA’s Your Driving Costs data served as the basis for all car ownership calculations, factoring in depreciation, fuel, maintenance, repair, financing, insurance, license, registration costs and taxes. Total cost of ride-hailing is based on data from 243,838 economy-level, single rider trips in 20 U.S. urban areas and does not factor in costs associated with carpooling or multimodal transportation options. On average, those using ride-hailing services spent an average of $13.15 per trip, spending 15.11 minutes and traveling 6.66 miles. Ride-hailing costs include the occasional use of rental vehicles for longer distance travel. Full methodology can be found in the study’s fact sheet.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 59 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

YouTube Videos

AAA Senior Driver Expos

NewsRoom Video Gallery

images

This is the official newsroom of AAA, a not-for-profit organization that provides its members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive services and information. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.